SEA FISHING 

 a long collar of single gut sufficiently shotted; and a single No. 3 crystal 

 hook. A slider -float is one capable of running down the line as far as the 

 shot above the hook, its progress in the opposite direction being checked 

 by a bristle (or by part of an indiarubber band) fixed across the line for 

 the purpose. This can be shifted higher or lower, so as to vary the depth 

 of the bait below the float, according to the stage of the tide. The bait used 

 at Margate is clean, firm paste, and groundbait is used, as in pond or 

 river fishing, consisting of bran and barley meal kneaded in large lumps. 

 One of these is gently dropped in the water before the rods are put together, 

 and others at intervals, whenever the fish are backward in biting, care 

 being taken not to feed them too generously with the groundbait. The 

 depth of the water is carefully plumbed from time to time, and the float 

 is so adjusted on the line that the hook may drift three or four inches 

 off the bottom. The float travels away from the boat with the tide, and is 

 abruptly checked just before reaching the posts opposite. This loosens 

 the paste on the hook, and means a fresh bait at every cast, but this is 

 regarded as an advantage, since the lost bait helps, with the groundbait, 

 to keep the mullet together. 



The first indication of a bite is that faint, scarcely perceptible, quiver 

 of the fioat familiar to the roach -fisherman. Then, of a sudden, it goes 

 under, but only for a moment. That is the moment to strike, otherwise 

 the mullet is gone, and pricking two or three fish will sometimes frighten 

 the remainder of the shoal away, though, curiously enough, the disturb- 

 ance due to playing a large fish to the landing net does not apparently 

 have the same result. When a big mullet is hooked, it bores in circles and 

 makes frantic efforts to get the line round the posts, from which, short 

 of breaking the tackle, no effort must be spared to restrain it. A tight 

 line must be kept on it, and it must be coaxed gently, but firmly, to the 

 long-handled landing net which the boatman has in readiness. The weather 

 regarded as most favourable to a good catch is a dead calm, but I have, 

 under Mr Gomm's guidance, caught mullet with a boisterous south- 

 west wind blowing. The hour of daybreak is most enjoyable for this 

 fishing, and between then and breakfast time some of the best mullet 

 are taken. There is good fishing also on the afternoon and evening 

 tide, so far as the mullet go, but there is also a good deal of humanity 

 on the jetty, and it does not, unfortunately, behave with the repose of 

 Vere de Vere. The " contemplative man " will therefore do wisely in 

 staying away. 



BBB 369 



